Oahu Dive Guide
Oahu Dive Guide: Explore the Best Dive Sites on the Island
By Uncle Kimo’s Scuba Adventures
Aloha, ocean explorers! 🌊 Oahu is home to some of the most incredible dive sites in the world, offering everything from vibrant reefs and historic wrecks to stunning shore dives and underwater lava tubes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, this guide will help you discover the best underwater adventures Oahu has to offer.
At Uncle Kimo’s Scuba Adventures, we’re passionate about providing unforgettable diving experiences, blending Hawaiian culture, small group safety, and the spirit of Aloha into every dive.
Dive Site Categories
To make it easy for you, we’ve grouped Oahu’s dive sites into three categories:
Reef Dives – Beginner-friendly and full of life.
Wreck Dives – For intermediate and advanced divers seeking adventure.
Shore and Cavern Dives – Unique underwater landscapes with varying skill levels.
Reef Dives (Beginner-Friendly)
Oahu’s reefs are perfect for beginners or those looking for a relaxed dive. These sites feature calm waters, shallow depths, and vibrant marine life.
Horseshoe Reef
Depth: 35–60 feet
What to Expect: A horseshoe-shaped reef filled with tropical fish, coral gardens, and occasional turtles.
Turtle Canyon
Depth: 20–40 feet
What to Expect: A turtle lover’s paradise! Spot Hawaiian green sea turtles resting and swimming among the reef.
Secrets Reef
Depth: 15–35 feet
What to Expect: A hidden gem with calm waters and a variety of reef fish, perfect for photography.
Nautilus Reef
Depth: 20–40 feet
What to Expect: A colorful reef teeming with marine life, including butterflyfish, eels, and parrotfish.
Fantasy Reef
Depth: 20–50 feet
What to Expect: A magical reef with excellent visibility, dramatic coral formations, and plenty of fish.
Anglers Reef
Depth: 20–40 feet
What to Expect: A peaceful dive site with abundant reef fish and occasional sightings of rays.
Keanu’s Reef
Depth: 20–40 feet
What to Expect: A calm and serene dive site, ideal for beginners and those looking to practice buoyancy.
Magic Island
Depth: 15 feet max
What to Expect: A calm and shallow dive site, perfect for beginners and snorkelers.
Wreck Dives (Intermediate to Advanced)
Oahu’s wreck dives are some of the most iconic in the world. These sites are perfect for divers seeking adventure and history.
Sea Tiger Wreck
Depth: 80–120 feet
What to Expect: A massive sunken vessel with reef sharks, eagle rays, and schools of fish.
Y/O 257 Wreck
Depth: 70–100 feet
What to Expect: A former Navy yard oiler, now a haven for marine life like turtles and reef sharks.
San Pedro Wreck
Depth: 70–100 feet
What to Expect: A smaller wreck near the Y/O 257, often explored in the same dive.
Corsair Airplane Wreck
Depth: 100–115 feet
What to Expect: A World War II fighter plane resting on the ocean floor, surrounded by garden eels.
Navy Tug Wreck
Depth: 60–90 feet
What to Expect: A sunken Navy tugboat with excellent visibility and thriving coral growth.
LCU Landing Craft Utility Wreck
Depth: 60–90 feet
What to Expect: A unique wreck dive featuring a landing craft surrounded by marine life.
The Baby Barge
Depth: 60–80 feet
What to Expect: A smaller barge wreck with turtles, eels, and reef fish.
Mahi Wreck
Depth: 80–100 feet
What to Expect: One of Oahu’s most famous wrecks, known for its large schools of fish and occasional dolphin sightings.
Secret Wreck Nashua YTB 774
Depth: 80–100 feet
What to Expect: A lesser-known wreck dive with fascinating history and vibrant marine life.
Shore and Cavern Dives (Varying Skill Levels)
These sites offer unique underwater landscapes, from lava tubes to dramatic caves.
Sharks Cove (Beginner-Friendly)
Depth: 10–40 feet
What to Expect: A shallow, calm dive site on the North Shore, perfect for beginners and snorkelers.
Makaha Caverns (Beginner to Intermediate)
Depth: 30–50 feet
What to Expect: Explore lava tubes, arches, and caverns while spotting turtles and reef fish.
Sea Caves (Intermediate to Advanced)
Depth: 40–100 feet
What to Expect: Dramatic underwater caves with stunning light effects and marine life.
Spitting Caves (Advanced)
Depth: 60–100 feet
What to Expect: A thrilling dive with strong currents, vibrant coral walls, and pelagic fish.
China Walls (Advanced)
Depth: 60–100 feet
What to Expect: A challenging dive with dramatic underwater cliffs and plenty of marine life.
Point Panic (Beginner-Friendly)
Depth: 15–40 feet
What to Expect: A shallow dive with calm conditions and colorful coral formations.
Electric Beach (Beginner-Friendly)
Depth: 20–40 feet
What to Expect: Warm waters from a nearby power plant attract schools of fish and occasional rays.
Magic Island (Beginner-Friendly)
Depth: 15 feet max
What to Expect: A calm and shallow dive site, perfect for beginners and snorkelers.
Interactive Map of Shore Dives
To make your adventures even easier, here’s an interactive maphighlighting all the shore dives mentioned in this guide:
Sharks Cove
Makaha Caverns
Point Panic
Electric Beach
Magic Island
China Walls
3 Tables
Dive with Aloha
At Uncle Kimo’s Scuba Adventures, we’re here to help you experience the magic of Oahu’s underwater world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, we’ll help you create unforgettable memories with small group sizes, personalized experiences, and a deep respect for the ocean.
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Let me know if you’d like me to draft the promotional email, create the map, or format this into a downloadable PDF! 🌊✨
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